Karsten's Way Part 2

There is no doubt that most serious golfers are aware of the Ping brand and its founder, Karsten Solheim. After all there are only 3 golf club company founders who have their own biography-Ely Callaway, Barney Adams and Karsten. What most people don't know are the behind the scenes things that Kartsen did both on his own and partnering with many family members.



For instance there was Karsten's idea of never firing an employee. Karsten felt that Ping existed for the purpose of providing jobs so that people could have "a decent standard of living." This idea was stretched to the limit when a woman who they later discovered was bi-polar chased Karsten's sister, Sandy, around the factory one day with a hammer. Order was able to be restored and they were able to get the proper employee medical attention.

During the mid-90's there was a slowdown on the sales of Ping clubs as Callaway and other competitors were making inroads in cavity back iron sales. Instead of laying people off Karsten had his employees sweep, paint, clean and anything he could to keep his people working. At one point he did have to lay some people off, a move that crushed him emotionally.

The best example that I have heard concerning Kartsen's kindness involves a man we will call Steve.

Steve was a collegiate All-American and came on the tour in the early 70's. He had been one of the earliest Ping players in an era where the putters had gained some acceptance but their irons where considered too futuristic for most good players. Steve faithfully supported the product and had a mildly successful run on the tour.

Things radically changed for Steve in 1986. He started exhibiting strange tendencies. He didn't show up for tournaments. He would disappear for weeks at a time. He would go on rants about subjects unrelated to golf. When word got to Karsten he found Steve and brought him to Phoenix.

While he was there Karsten arranged for him to see the best specialists where they diagnosed him as bi-polar. Karsten housed Steve in his own home during the 1 1/2 years of treatment and paid the bills of Steve's family who were without income during his treatment.

After Steve got better, Karsten trusted him with a job as a Ping sales rep. Leaving Phoenix for the mid west, Karsten took care of Steve's expenses until he could get going, reunited Steve with his own family and even gave Steve his personal car to make sales calls.

That was Karsten's way. Well done, good and faithful servant.